“Not a great day at the office, was it!” were my words to my Dad !
After a very early start to get to Chill Factore in Manchester, I had two mediocre runs which left me in 6th place.
So, learn from it, move on !
Sunday of the double header of races at Chill Factore in Manchester brought the British Indoor Championships, again a very strong U12 field.
Run 1 felt fast, and after the rest of the field finishing strongly, I was joint second with Harry and only 0.47 seconds behind Elliott. So high hopes for Run 2.
Run 2 was disappointing with a slight slip on one of the gates and I couldn’t improve my Run 1 time, whilst everyone else had better Run 2’s, so ended up 5th.
Disappointed as wanted to finish off my indoor season 2014 with another podium, but given me looks to work on for 2015.
The results can be found here.
All geared up for a weekend of racing at Chill Factore in Manchester, unfortunately Mum wasn’t very well on the Friday so she didn’t travel with us.
Both days had a strong field in the U12 category, so it was going to be a hard weekend and a chance to see nearing the end of the 2014 Indoor season to see how much time I have eaten into the second year U12.
Run 1 was my fastest time of the day with a 17.29 seconds leaving me in 2nd place, and a slightly slower Run 2 time 17.37 seconds cemented a podium 3rd place.
Well done to Elliott and Jack (looks like Jack, Lucas and Kayne will be the ones to beat next year in the U12s). 
The results can be found here.
Maybe too late a night on the Saturday dampened the aggressive attitude from BIGP Race 5 on the Saturday into the European Championships on the Sunday.
With the fastest run from two runs, on a course that was fast becoming soft due to the racing the day before, I managed to, AGAIN, lay down to very consistent runs.
Run 1 15.19 seconds which left me in 4th place behind three year 2 U12 racers. So nothing to loose on Run 2, where I posted an improved time of 15.15 seconds, but couldn’t improve my placing for a podium position and ended up 4th to 3 very talented skiers.
Results for the European Championships are here.
Again, really happy with my consistency, as my combined times for Run 1 & 2 would have placed me 3rd. So I have done slightly better than my year 1 aims on the indoor circuit in the U12’s. Bring on the rest of the indoor season and then the Alpine season !!!!
Amazing pictures from Neil at Racer Ready – to view more from the European Championships click here.
The Scottish Championships on the Sunday complete the Braehead double header race, and I love racing here. Usually a strong field as it attracts lots from the Scottish ski resorts and dry slopes, so any podium here is a really great result. U12 field was the largest indoor U12 field raced against, with 17 starters of which 9 are second year U12.
Again I pushed second year U12 Elliott on both runs, but couldn’t beat his second run time.
Still, I managed to get within 0.60 seconds from his winning time and finished 2nd. Last year I walked away with 1st place in the U10s, 2nd in my first year U12s, so watch out 2015 as I am after my Scottish Indoor Champs crown back!
Good weekend of podium places!
The full results can be found here.
On Sunday I took part in my first indoor race of the 2014 Season, which means a jump into the Under 12’s (which covers year of birth 2003 and my year of birth 2004).
Good competitive line up racing, with Tommy, Oliver, Harry, Elliott and Lucas, all racing in their 2nd year of U12’s (Year 2003).
I took both runs a bit tentatively following hurting my achilles during Week 2 of the Gravity Hintertux Training Camp, and posted a first run time of 16.79 followed by an improvement on my second run of 16.42seconds.
Click to access 14chillcn2res.pdf
So whilst disappointing I didn’t make headway into the U12 2003 Boys times, 8th was a good result as not raced gates for over 1 month, sore ankle but beat the remainder of the U12 (some 2003 and 2004) and U10’s (and all but one of the U10 & U12 girls).
We always knew that the move into the bottom age of the Age Group would be hard, so got to take heart that completed two reasonable runs, with Run 2 faster than Run 1. Looking at the similar race last year there were similar time differences to the 2002 and 2003. Need to ramp up my training and try to eat into that 2 second differential to make the 2015 season productive.
Well done to Grace and Fin for 2nd Places in their age groups at the Sunday Manchester Ski Race Club Club National !
Just received the acceptance list for the Inter-Schools, looks like a strong U10 field, with 26 boys.
Weekend will plan out with training and coaching by Gravity on the Saturday and Sunday.
Monday 17th March – U10 & U12 Girls and Boys Giant Slalom on Grand Bois
Tuesday 18th March – U10 & U12 Girls and Boys Slalom on Col De Voza
If weather conditions allow, they get 3 runs per course and combined best two runs count towards places.
Some really strong School teams, but I won’t be in contention for School prizes as only me attending from The Grove 😦 Maybe we should see if Kayne’s results and mine can count together 🙂
Lions Ski Club ran a new seeded race to raise funds to help David Ryding on his way to Sochi and the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. The race took place at Castleford on Saturday November 30th at 4pm. … The organisers plan to run the Minis race starting at 4pm with two runs on the same course. The slope will then be groomed and the other racers will start at 7pm.
The day early evening split race format was brilliant, and the whole event was held in a fun race manner. Whilst being out numbered by Lions skiers, I tried to help some of the Under 8’s and 10’s and the novice racers on course inspection. As usual for a Lions course, the course setters had included a few bumps, so it was going to be a great incident packed race !
On my Run 1, after watching several of the U8 and 10’s fall at one gate, I also stumbled and had to use my strength to push off the snow to carry on down the course. Run 1 was a dissapointing time of 20.79 seconds, but I am beginning to understand how to correct my errors.
After watching the U12’s on the top of the course also struggle , I came up with a new plan of attack for Run 2. Lucas from the Lions in his 2nd Run posted a fast time of 19.04 seconds, so I had to push on my 2nd Run.
Following my plan of attack to hit the problem gate higher, I had a good run, ;although my Dad says I need to hit the finish line with more speed), I finished Run 2 with a 1st Place time (Under 10’s) time of 18.63 seconds.
Big thanks to Lions, Graham and Cathy Beck for organising and to Dave Ryding’s Parents for awarding the trophies.
Last indoor race of the year for me at the British Alpine Racing Ski Club Championships held at Chill Factore in Manchester.
Run 1, really went for it, but fell at the verticale, spectacular fall after getting some good air !, but still managed to finish (51.70 seconds)
Run 2, more cautious run, posted a time of 17:07 seconds, which gave me a 1st place some 0.35seconds quicker than Lucas from Lions (Thanks to Lions for the podium picture).
Happy with the podium, not so happy with my times, need to a. be more consistent with my runs, b. speed up, as I was 2.58seconds behind Oliver, who I will be racing against in the U12’s next year.
Full results here.
Well done to Daniel Barton, winning the U16’s (6th overall) and winning as part of the International GS competition in the afternoon.
Also well done to Kayne at the ERSA Brentwood Plastic race, with a 2nd place behind Alex, which gave him a 2nd on the best of 4 (2x snow and 2x plastic) races in the ERSA Championships.
It’s Official – I am the UNDER 10 SNOWSPORT GBR & ATOMIC INDOOR RACE SERIES CHAMPION !
I cant’ believe it, this is amazing, in my first year of indoor ski racing and I won the SnowSports GBR Indoor Race Series for the Under 10 Age Category. I collected the Perpetual Trophy, a trophy to keep and a gift voucher from sponsors Atomic and Ski Bartlett on Saturday from SnowSports England CEO Tim Fawkes after the race at the Chill Factore in Manchester.
Out of the six races around the indoor courses around country, I ended up with three 1st Places, one 2nd Place, one 3rd Place and one race not attended. My SMK team mate Kayne came 2nd overall, so well done Kayne and congratulations to George with 3rd!
In 2014 I move up on the Indoor Series to the Under 12 age group, so the races will be harder, but as I told my Dad on Saturday, “my aim is to give back this U10 Trophy this time next year and collect the U12 one !”
Hopefully Kayne will be pushing for the U10 next year !
Thanks to SMK team and coaches and Gravity Snowsports (Glen and Ben) for their consistent improvement in my ski training, technique and fitness, my School for their ever increasing support, Snowsports GBR for introducing a new U10 perpetual U10 Trophy, and Atomic & Ski Bartlett for sponsoring the race Series and the gift voucher, all the parents and volunteers who make the races happen and to my Mum and (the amazing ski prep’ing) Dad for helping me win this Series !
BRING ON 2014 !
Zac Metheringham 